Budding Englewood Tennis Star 'Does Not Put Herself On This Pedestal"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After pulling off a stunning upset in the French Open, a tennis player from Englewood gets another shot at making a splash in a major tournament, when she plays her first match at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports 18-year-old Taylor Townsend shocked everyone with her upset victory over the world's No. 21 women's player, Alize Cornet, becoming the youngest player to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 2003.
Townsend, who trains at XS Tennis in the Hyde Park neighborhood, stopped by the facility before leaving for Wimbledon.
"She came in and just hung out, and helped out," said Aaron Mabra, director of junior development at XS Tennis. "She helped out with lunch, and just hung out with the kids. It just showed how she really is just a part of what's going on. She does not put herself on this pedestal."
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He said she didn't let her upset of Cornet in the French Open go to her head, and she still acts like one of the kids. She wasn't even expected to play at Wimbledon.
"She's still only around 140 in the world, so she's lucky that she was able to get in with the wildcard," Mabra said.
He said everyone at XS Tennis will be pulling for her.
"We have our summer camp that's going on right now, and we will bring all the kids in, and we will all watch Taylor when her match comes on," he said.
Mabra said he's never seen Townsend without a smile on her face. He said her enthusiasm is infectious, and she's always willing to share her skills with aspiring players.
